K. Fukatsu et T. Takahata, FORMATION OF HYDROXYL RADICALS FROM REACTION OF CU(II) WOOL KERATIN COMPLEX WITH HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE, Textile research journal, 63(5), 1993, pp. 289-295
In order to determine that the degradation of wool keratin molecules i
n the Cu(II)/wool keratin complex/hydrogen peroxide system may be brou
ght about by the hydroxyl radical formed in this system, hydroxyl radi
cal formation was measured using the thiobarbituric acid method. The C
u(II)/wool keratin complex can yield hydroxyl radicals by reaction wit
h hydrogen peroxide, but under anaerobic conditions the amount of hydr
oxyl radical formation is less than that under aerobic conditions. Epi
nephrine oxidation, an indicator of superoxide radical generation, occ
urs in the reaction of this system. These results indicate that the Cu
(II)/wool keratin complex appears to catalyze hydroxyl radical formati
on from the hydrogen peroxide superoxide radical being formed as an in
termediate. The sequence of reactions leading to hydroxyl radical form
ation is essentially the metal catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction.